Statue of Medea

For other uses, see Medea (disambiguation).

The Statue of Medea (Georgian: მედეას ძეგლი) is a monumental sculpture located at Europe Square in Batumi, Georgia. Designed by Georgian architect and sculptor Davit Khmaladze, the statue depicts the mythological figure Medea, a princess of ancient Colchis, holding the Golden Fleece. It was unveiled on 6 July 2007 by the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, as part of a wider program to promote Batumi as a Black Sea tourist destination. The monument has since become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of Georgia’s link to classical mythology and the legend of the Argonauts.^[1]

Statue of Medea
The Medea statue at Europe Square, Batumi (2024)
Artist	Davit Khmaladze
Year	2007
Medium	Bronze
Subject	Medea
Dimensions	130 m (5,100 in)
Location	Batumi
Coordinates	41°39′04″N 41°38′13″E
Website	GoBatumi.com

History

The decision to erect a monument to Medea in Batumi was part of a broader program by the Georgian government in the early 2000s to modernize the city and promote it as a major Black Sea tourist destination. The statue was designed by Georgian architect and sculptor Davit Khmaladze, who portrayed Medea holding the Golden Fleece, a direct reference to the ancient Greek myth that associates Colchis (present-day western Georgia) with the legend of the Argonauts.

The statue was officially unveiled on 6 July 2007 by the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, in a ceremony attended by local and national officials. At the time of its inauguration, the government emphasized the monument as a symbol of Georgia’s cultural heritage and its historical ties to European civilization.

See also

• Colchis
• History of Georgia (country)
• Golden Fleece
• Medea
• Argonauts